Lions Optometric Vision Clinic

LOVC blue logo

** For information or questions about services offered, please check the website www.lionsvisionclinic.org

OR call the clinic directly at (619) 298-5273 or email: lionsvisionclinic@gmail.com

Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
1805 Upas St
San Diego, CA 92103

The Lion’s Optometric Vision Clinic (LOVC) was created in 1963 as a service project, with the support of the local San Diego County Lions Clubs. The first clinic was located in the Blind Recreation Center and later moved to its own clinic below the center. The LOVC was established to provide vision care to individuals in our community that could not otherwise afford adequate care. This service has provided eyeglasses to over 10,000 individuals. More than 200 San Diego agencies currently refer patients to the clinic. Each patient must meet certain criteria in order to receive benefits from the clinic. It has been the tireless effort and dedication of volunteers from the Lions Club and the San Diego County Optometric Society that have made this a successful project.

In August 2000, the clinic moved to its present location on the Third Floor of the newly built Blind Community Center on Upas Street. The clinic has two fully equipped exam lanes for optometric examinations. The most modern optical instruments and professional diagnostic equipment available at the time was purchased through donations of Lions International Foundation, the San Diego County Optometric Society and Lions Clubs of District 4L6, as well as individual donors. The clinic is staffed by three employees, an Office Manager, an Optician and an Optometric Assistant. The members of the San Diego County Optometric Society volunteer their professional services and time Monday through Fridays. Complete optometric care is available including examination for lenses, dispensing glasses, glaucoma and other eye health screenings, evaluation for low vision appliances and consulting services for other related vision problems.

The LOVC needs our help more than ever. They are in urgent need of volunteer doctors to provide care to over 200 individuals from our community who have requested vision services. These are individuals who, based on income, do not qualify for public assistance or other vision programs, and typically “fall through the cracks”. In many cases, these are individuals who have no health coverage at all.

The clinic is open for patients on Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. The LOVC is currently scheduling volunteer doctors for half days, thus allowing for minimal time away from their office.

Volunteer doctors interested in assisting the LOVC for half day of exams can contact the LOVC office at (619) 298-5273 for further details.

Volunteering for 1 morning entitles SDCOS members to attend a 5 hour CE course for FREE!! (Up to 2 per year)

Non-Members $70 off, choice of 2 or 5 hour CE. Maximum of 2 CE’s per year.

Congratulations for the years of service to our community in the past and into the future.


On Sunday, June 2nd, 2019, the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic held an open house to introduce prospective doctors to the clinic and thank current volunteers.  There was a tour of the clinic, live music and raffle prizes.  The open house raised ~$200 to support the clinic, thank you to everyone who participated!  If you have any questions about the clinic or are interested in volunteering, please call us (619-298-5273), email us (lionsvisionclinic@gmail.com) or visit our website (lionsvisionclinic.org).  We also have several fundraisers coming up, including the SDCOS golf tournament and at restaurants such as BJ’s Pizza and Blaze Pizza; see our website for the more details.